Fun in the Northwoods

17 hours ago

April 5, 2026, the 95th day of 2026 Happy Easter Jesus is Risen! ... View More

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April 4, 2026 8:25 am

April 4, 2026, the 94th day of 2026 In the Tomb I was thinking this morning about those who woke up the day after Jesus was taken in the night and crucified in the morning. What were the words that... View MoreApril 4, 2026, the 94th day of 2026 In the Tomb I was thinking this morning about those who woke up the day after Jesus was taken in the night and crucified in the morning. What were the words that they woke up to? How would they have felt? This is speculation on my part, but I could feel something of it as I wrote. The hopelessness that must have filled their hearts knowing their belived Rabbi had been taken and judged while they celebrated their Passover Meal with their families and slept deeply and contentedly into the morning, knowing nothing of what was happening. But they would be told, and their hearts would break. Their hopes would shatter. All the promises they felt so close to being fulfilled in this Jesus, crumbled in moments. So many had hoped that they had found their Messiah, their Lord, their King. But, in an instant that was all taken from them. Without Jesus, and all that His coming promised, how could they go on? We can read the words of Jesus and see that He was warning them that He had to suffer and die, but that He would rise again. Yet, even for the disciples, who heard it all, it somehow got lost to them in all the parables and the lessons on living a godly life, a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and wondering what their place was in it. We still don't grasp a fraction of what Jesus taught, and we have the full Bible, all kinds of study guides and actual time to study. But the truth was that at that moment all they felt was the raw agony that their beloved Teacher had been taken by evil men and they were powerless to do anything but mourn! Before the tomb, some had seen as He carried His cross through the streets after having been flogged. He was not in good shape then. They had to see that. Some had seen Him nailed to the cross, if they could have handled that sight and did not turn away in horror from it. Some had seen Him on the cross, hanging there, with no Heavenly host coming to His aid. Even as the soldier's mocked Him and others heckled Him, no one did a thing to rescue Him. Some had seen as He breathed His last, then His side pierced, and being taken down from the cross. They had to wonder where God was in all of this. And if God let such a man die, what hope did anyone have? Jesus was dead! And with His death they had to feel that all of their hopes and dreams had died with Him. They were not a group of scholars, and even if they were, the scholars missed seeing their Saviour, because they had preconceived notions of how their Saviour would come--their deliverer and conquering King. Yes, He will return that way. But they did not know that yet. They didn't even remember His promisr to rise from dead. How could the One Who rose others, rise Himself once death stold all from Him? They did not realize that first He had to come and be our Passover sacrifice--the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus had to breech the gulf that separated us from God. Jesus had to take our place--pay oir debt--if we were to ever have a chance to come to the Father, in repentance and surrender. They did not know. And so, with their hopes wrapped up in a tomb, they agonized over what to do next, with the Light of the World snuffed out. And they couldn't think. They couldn't decide. They could do nothing but mourn and grieve for what was lost to them, not only their Teacher, but their hopes. And the tomb would remain silent, until... Stay strong! No matter how bad it looks at any moment, is not the final state of things. Hope in the Lord! NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

April 3, 2026 5:27 pm

April 3, 2026, the 93rd day of 2026 Wintery Mix Leftovers Probably the least anticipated weather of all comes in the days when Winter should have let go of its hold, but does not. Instead of leavin... View More

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Nelani Nettrour

April 3, 2026 12:14 am

April 2, 2026, the 92nd day of 2026 Watch And Wait Tonight our church is doijg a Gethsemane remembrance, as each set of people come and are keeping watchful silence, praying, contemplating, Bible re... View MoreApril 2, 2026, the 92nd day of 2026 Watch And Wait Tonight our church is doijg a Gethsemane remembrance, as each set of people come and are keeping watchful silence, praying, contemplating, Bible reading or inspirational readings for 45 minite s egments until Midnight. For me, it was reading the Gethsemane story in each of the gospels and beginning this post. I had to finish it when we got home. Some came earlier and are staying longer. We are in a beautiful part of the church with candles lit and incense burning. When I think of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, facing what we cannot even imagine facing, nor can I pretend to have any idea of what He was going through, it always gets to me. Allowing ourselves to stop, and just think about it makes it even more . But I can read about what was written and let that sink in during the silence. It is comforting to have our closest friends with us when we are facing hardships. They may not be able to help in any other way than to be there. But that matters. To be one of the three of the inner circle of Jesus, would be especially important to be there for Him at that time, supporting Him. Each of the gospels gives an account of some of the time in Gethsemane. I am going to share each one, the same time, but how the Holy Spirit moved each author. I am going to add a few thoughts after each reading, not a lot, just some things that caught my attention reading it this way. Matthew: "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go and pray over there.' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.'” Matthew 26:36-46 I find Matthew pretty straight forward. Mentioning a conversation with Peter, individually, knowing that soon he will deny Him, shows the warning should have been taken seriously. And how many tines have we used those words of warning? "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Mark: "Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.' He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.' Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'. Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.'” Mark 14:32-42 Mark highlights a bit more of the Son with the Father, even using the term of endearment, "Abba", Daddy. And including Jesus claiming that since God could do anything, He could stop this from needing to be done. But Jesus knew that whatever the outcome of His prayers, He was willing to do the will of the Father. That battle had to be won before Jesus faced the next battles. The fact that the disciples eyes were heavy and that they couldn't answer Him, showed how much sleep really had overtaken them. Luke "Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.' Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, 'Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.' Luke 22:39-46 Luke adds some details not covered by the other gospels, an angel coming to Him to minister to Him, and the agony of His prayers so deep that His sweat formed as droplets of blood. What Jesus went through in the garden, helped him to face what was coming next. For us as well, those spiritual battles fought through prayer are essential to properly doing God's will. John: "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples." John 18:1-2 John adds a few details to the place and why Judas knew where it was, but he didn't cover the actual time of Jesus in prayer or the sleeping disciples. It was an interesting way to recount the agony of Gethsemane, but there is really no way of taking it apart and gleaning the cost of our salvation. It is beyond our imaging. It is beyond our comprehension. But what we can do is take that salvation offered to us, through repentance and surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Master. Stay strong! Let the choice of Jesus to do the will of God, not His own will, inspire you. NAN

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Nelani Nettrour

April 1, 2026 11:56 pm

April 1, 2026, the 91sr day of 2026 27th Anniversary Twenty-seven years ago today, my first book, "Soaring Free" was published. It was like a dream come true, after a whole lot of work.... View More

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Nelani Nettrour

March 31, 2026 8:20 pm

March 31, 2026, the 90th day of 2026 Out Like a Liony Lamb The old saying of the month of March "in like a lion, out like a lamb", or "in like a lamb out like a lion" is not something that really pr... View More

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